Writing Prompt - Narrative Essay
We have all had occasions to feel proud about an achievement. The achievement did not have to be world class. But, at the time, you felt proud. It could have been something as seemingly simple now as when you first rode a two-wheel bike. Or it could have been the first birthday cake that you baked for your mother. Perhaps it was that great present your brought home from kindergarten for one of your parents. It could have been the recital in which you preformed, your great play in a game that you won, an award that was given or a seemingly impossible wonderful grade on a project or report card. There are so many things from which to choose that come from a seemingly ordinary life.
Your job is to write a five-paragraph essay on an incident in which you were proud.
Choose one of those events in which you were proud. It does not have to be one listed above. Probably the one that you remember the best is the right choice.
Use a planner.
Define the event in time and place. Think of the emotions or actions that went along with it. Write down that topic sentence.
Think of the way you are going to develop the topic. Are you using time order or something else. Then think of the three most important subtopics you can develop. Put them on the planner also. Remember that they will be the topics for the supporting three paragraphs.
Think about each of those subtopics. What can you say to develop those thoughts? Be sure to bring in details that support and develop the thoughts. Try to picture that portion of each of the subtopics as if you were there. Think of what was going on, what was going through your mind, what effort was necessary to fulfill each, if others were contributing in some way. Write them down. Be sure to do that for each of the three subtopics.
How are you going to originally summarize what you have put down? Remember that originally restating the major topic is a good idea. Then synthesize the supporting ideas.
Go back and look over the planner to see if you really did develop the main topic. Did you stay on track with each and every idea?
Now is the time to write the essay.
Clearly state the topic and the supporting ideas.
As you write, vary the sentence structure to create interest and to keep the writing from seeming like a list.
Check to be sure that you have transitions between the paragraphs. Remember they are important and need not be complex.
When you finish, go back and reread and check.
Is the spelling accurate?
Is the punctuation appropriate?
Did you truly vary the sentence structure or did you usually use the subject in the first part of the sentence?
Does one thought follow the next in a logical order? Did you stick to the topic and let the reader really experience the incident?
Did you use the appropriate tense of the verb throughout? Did you use active voice?
Make any corrections neatly.
